Details

Name

William de Morgan

Brief Biography

1839-1917, English

Occupation

Potter and novelist

Description

William De Morgan was the most important ceramic artist of the Arts and Crafts Movement. William's father, Augustus De Morgan was the first professor of Mathematics at the newly founded University College London. His wife, Sofia Elizabeth Frend, campaigned alongside Elizabeth Fry in the early 19th century to promote prison reform and held strong views on religious liberty and women's suffrage. They were both involved in the founding of the higher education institution, Bedford College for Women, in London.

In 1859 De Morgan was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools and studied alongside Frederick Walker and Simeon Solomon. Henry Holiday was also in his circle and introduced De Morgan to William Morris. Two years later De Morgan turned his attention to the decorative arts and began his experimentations with stained glass.

In 1863 De Morgan had his first real career break when he met William Morris and the painter Edward Burne Jones. As Morris had not been very successful with ceramics, De Morgan took over the tile production side of the business and soon began designing his own tiles. He collaborated with William Morris for many years.

By 1900 his designs were considered old fashioned. De Morgan, with his partner, the architect Halsey Ricardo, continued work until 1907 but with dwindling success and ill health, he spent much of the year in Florence, Italy with his wife.